Abstract

Effective pastoral counselling is influenced by appropriate pas- toral diagnosis. A pastoral diagnosis or assessment in Africa should focus on socio-cultural systems thinking, which entails an understanding of the people’s worldview of distress embed- ded in stories. Thus, the process of assessment in Africa should concentrate, among other factors, on the constructive and de- structive role of the community and the strength of beliefs in supernatural causes of distress in order to focus the probing and interpretation of the conversation.

Highlights

  • Pastoral care and pastoral counselling are phrases that are often used interchangeably but it can be differentiated

  • One cannot carry out pastoral counselling without providing pastoral care

  • The context of pastoral care and counselling is the community of faith; the goal is faith and spiritual development; and the method is communication of gospel promises that are applied by the Holy Spirit

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Summary

Introduction

Pastoral care and pastoral counselling are phrases that are often used interchangeably but it can be differentiated. Disturbing this balance causes sickness and suffering (Mwaura, 2000) This supernatural perception of sickness and suffering poses a pastoral care challenge in Africa and the pastoral counsellor may need to interpret God in terms of these supernatural perceptions and experiences. An understanding of this worldview is crucial for effective and meaningful pastoral diagnosis and for pastoral counselling. Pastoral counselling should take people’s contexts seriously; and in order for pastoral counselling and diagnosis in Africa to be effective, knowledge of the African worldview is crucial for interpreting the conversation. Possible areas for probing and interpretation in an African context shall be proposed

The nature and function of pastoral diagnosis
African worldview and perception of suffering
Centrality of worldview in interpreting a pastoral conversation
21. Why do you think you are a Christian?
Conclusion
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